Falling debris, an Unsafe facade report or a DOB order? When DOB’s emergency rule applies, we start protection first and file the application after.
Anyone in danger? Call 911 first.
Debris falling? Do these five things while you call us:
An emergency sidewalk shed gives pedestrians a covered path beneath a hazard while the owner arranges the repair. We install them in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, and we answer calls at any hour. We also handle the DOB filings that follow, from the first application through the 90-day renewals.
When the site needs it, our crews close off the danger zone with construction fence or Jersey barriers. Response and arrival times depend on location, site conditions and crew availability. On the call, we tell you what is realistic for your block.
Four situations call for protection right away.
Brick, stone or a piece of cornice hits the sidewalk, or a parapet cracks and leans. The spot where one piece fell shows where the next one could.
A Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector rates the building Unsafe under the Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP, also called Local Law 11). The owner must then install protection immediately, and DOB’s FISP page names a sidewalk shed as an example. Our Unsafe facade report guide explains the repair clock.
The order sets the standard. We read it with you and build the shed to match what it requires.
Wind, water and fire loosen cladding and masonry that looked sound the day before.
DOB’s Sidewalk Shed page, citing Administrative Code § 28-105.4.1, says licensed contractors “may perform emergency work without initially getting a permit.” The rule gives you speed, and it sets limits.
Only the work that fixes the emergency. A shed or a fence over the spot where debris is falling can count. Restoring the whole facade can’t, and that work still needs its permits.
Within two business days after the work starts, the contractor files the permit application with DOB. It describes in writing what the emergency was and what the crew did to cut the hazard. The job closes out after DOB’s required inspections.
Other city agencies keep their own rules, DOT’s included. The exemption doesn’t cover those.
We handle the DOB filing and send it inside that two-business-day window. You give us the owner details and any DOB order or report.
Save your photos, the dates and a copy of the written description. DOB can inspect emergency work, and good records make that easy.
NYC DOT suspends routine street work on busy streets during its holiday and event embargoes. Emergency work can go ahead once the permittee gets a DOT emergency number. The holiday embargo has run from mid-November to early January in recent years, so check DOT’s embargo page for this year’s dates. If your block sits in an embargo area, say so on the call.
An emergency sidewalk shed protects the sidewalk while repairs happen. The repair clock keeps running.
| Milestone | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Within 2 business days | The emergency permit application, including the written description, must be submitted to DOB. |
| Every 90 days | Sidewalk shed permits issued or renewed since February 2, 2026, expire after 90 days and no longer renew automatically. |
| Each renewal | A $130 fee applies. Since August 17, 2026, most renewals also require progress information from a registered design professional and a $90 fee, bringing the total to $220. |
| Unsafe facade | Repairs must be completed within 90 days of DOB notification, with extensions available while protective measures remain in place. |
| After 180 days | Graduated monthly penalties may apply to sheds without meaningful repair progress, capped at $6,000 per month under Local Law 48. |
Six factors set the price of an emergency shed:
DOB’s renewal fees run on top of our price. Send the address and photos, and we quote from there.
We have worked in NYC since 2004 and carry $2M general liability insurance. Our crews are OSHA-trained. Our newest shed went up on East 27th Street in Brooklyn in 2026.
Yes, in a qualifying emergency. DOB lets licensed contractors start emergency work before the permit issues, limited to the work that relieves the emergency. The contractor must submit the application within two business days after starting.
Two business days after the work starts. The application describes the emergency condition and the steps taken to reduce the hazard. We prepare and file it for you.
We answer 24/7. Arrival depends on location, site conditions and crew availability. Call, and we give you a realistic window for your block.
We answer the phone every night and weekend. Whether a crew installs overnight depends on the site and its conditions, and we tell you on the call.
We handle the DOB filing. You give us the owner details and any DOB order or facade report.
Price depends on frontage length, building height, curb obstructions, timing, rental length and engineering. DOB renewal fees add $130 per 90-day renewal, or $220 for most sheds. Send the address and photos for a quote.
Call (718) 581-4370 and tell us the address and what is coming down. Can’t talk? Send the address, a photo and a number we can call back. If someone is hurt or in danger, call 911 first.
ABC Sidewalk Shed & Scaffolding provides licensed, insured overhead protection and scaffolding systems across all five NYC boroughs. Serving building owners, property managers, and general contractors with DOB-compliant installations and 24/7 emergency dispatch since 2004.
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